(Kata POV – Sports Festival Stadium)
I step down from the stage, and immediately, I feel the weight of their stares—challenge, anger, and determination burning in their eyes.
"Don't get cocky!"
"You dirty bastard!"
"We'll crush you!"
Screams of indignation echoed across the students. Judging by their reactions, some of them must have mistaken my words as mockery rather than a challenge.
I rejoin Class A just as Midnight announces the first event.
"Now, without further delay, let's get the first event started!"
She gestures toward a large screen flashing through various options until it lands on—
Obstacle Course Race.
"It's a race between every member of all 11 classes! The course is a 4km lap around the stadium! Anything's fair game, so long as you don't go off the course!"
The side gate of the stadium creaks open, and students begin shuffling toward it.
"Racers, to your positions..." The first of three lights on the gate flickers off.
Elbows dig into ribs, feet shuffle for space—everyone fights for even the slightest advantage.
The second light goes dark.
Muscles coil, breaths steady, eyes lock forward. This was it. The moment before the sprint.
I chuckle internally. 'Too bad they don't know…'
I crack my neck, focusing my quirk. 'That they never stood a chance…'
The final light vanishes—then all three blaze green.
"START!!"
The herd surges forward, only to immediately bottleneck at the narrow gate. Chaos erupts as students shove and scramble, trying to squeeze through.
I'm already airborne.
Wind whips through my hair as I leave the crowd behind, soaring high above them. Below, a sudden wave of frost erupts from the tunnel. Todoroki rushes out as he freezes a large portion of the competition and dashes after me, creating an ice path that he skates on.
A few others manage to break past. Bakugo blasts himself through the air with controlled explosions, a manic grin on his face. Momo vaults over the frozen floor with a pole she creates from her palm, while other students use their quirks to push through.
Todoroki glances up, his expression calm yet focused as he slides forward at high speed, trying to close the gap between us. Behind him, Bakugo snarls, "I ain't lettin' you get ahead, you snow globe!"
I raise an eyebrow. 'Snow Globe? That's new.'
I didn't dwell on it and kept moving, gradually widening the distance between us.
That's when—
"Every obstacle course needs obstacles!!" Present Mic's voice booms through the speakers.
I glance ahead just in time to see towering figures appear on the track.
Zero-Pointers.
Dozens of them, along with hordes of smaller combat robots, block the way.
"...The First Barrier: Robo Inferno!!"
Screams erupt from the students.
"Seriously?! The Hero Course fought these?!"
"There's no way through!"
I'm already upon them. 'How should I do this?'
I could just fly over, but the festival isn't just about winning. It's about proving your worth and getting pros interested in you.
I smirk, deciding on my approach.
Without slowing, I focus my energy—manifesting four massive sword constructs. I flick my hand, sending them slicing through the air. Each blade spears a Zero-Pointer through its core, sending them toppling backward in a shower of sparks.
At the same time, I focus my power downward, sending tremors rippling through the earth.
BOOM.
Cracks split across the terrain, shaking the remaining robots off balance.
'Can't make it too easy for everyone else.'
With a final surge of power, I reshape the battlefield. Massive rock pillars burst from the ground, transforming the once-flat path into a chaotic maze of jagged hills, deep ravines, and fractured terrain.
But to be fair, I left a few clear paths.
As I pass over my handiwork, I reposition the smaller robots and place them along the clear paths while leaving the 8 zero-pointers to roam free and wreak havoc.
With a satisfied nod, I speed towards the second obstacle: The Fall.
'Might as well speedrun the rest since they're pointless against me.'
I speed through the air, wind howling past me as I reach and pass the second obstacle. A massive canyon with tightropes? Completely useless if you can fly.
The Minefield barely registers as I effortlessly fly over it. Within seconds, I reach the stadium, pass the finish line, and touch down, my landing barely making a sound, with a time of 52 seconds.
Silence.
The entire crowd, thousands of people strong, stares in stunned disbelief. Even Present Mic takes a moment to process what just happened before regaining his voice.
"A-AND THAT'S IT! IN A STUNNING DISPLAY OF RAW POWER AND SPEED, THE FIRST TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE IS… NONE OTHER THAN KATA OKADA!!"
The stadium erupts into deafening cheers, shaking the ground beneath me.
'Now for the finishing touches.'
I turn to the cameras, a small, confident smile appearing on my face. I raise a hand and wave. The cheers amplify, my name and face broadcast to millions of screens across the world.
This moment is enough to leave a lasting impression.
'Now I just have to wait for the others.'
I sigh internally. 'Which is the hardest part of the race.'
(3rd Person POV – Obstacle Course Track)
"…The first to cross the finish line is… Kata Okada!!"
The announcement hits like a sledgehammer.
Todoroki and Bakugo, leading the charge, listen in shock. Students still stuck at the starting line gape in disbelief, their bodies frozen as much as the ice trapping their feet.
"I-I… impossible…" a student mutters.
"He must've cheated!" another snaps, unwilling to accept the sheer gap in ability.
Murmurs ripple through the crowd, disbelief turning to suspicion. Some exchange wide-eyed glances, others scowl, grasping for an explanation that makes sense. But deep down, they all hear it—the weight behind Kata's words during the opening speech.
"I plan to win. That's simply the most logical conclusion."
Now, they understood.
(Todoroki POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
A sharp breath escapes me as I clench my fists. 'So that's his power…'
Frustration swirls in my chest, but I push it down. I need to keep moving.
Ice spreads beneath my feet as I launch myself forward. The towering robots barely register as I glide past, freezing them in an instant. The rocky maze Kata left behind is a challenge for most.
'But I can use it to my advantage.'
I focus and rapidly form ice beneath me, propelling me higher up. Once I reach a height above the wall of rocks, I leap off, creating a pathway below my feet and slide over the whole area.
My speed rises as I descend lower and lower as I use the momentum to shoot ahead.
Letting out a frosty breath, I focus on the path ahead. 'The canyon is next... I won't let this end here.'
(Bakugo POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!"
Rage burns in my veins. 'That bastard! He didn't just win—he made us all look like extras!'
I rocket through the air, explosions propelling me forward as I grind my teeth. The damn robots barely have time to move before I BLOW THEM TO HELL.
The ice-covered labyrinth doesn't slow me down—I blast straight over it, straight over the mountains that bastard made.
I rise right into the path of the zero-pointers. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!!"
Pressing both hands together, I release a large explosion, blasting the robot in the face as it collapses backwards.
I see the icy-hot bastard fly past me on an ice slide.
Throwing my hands back, I blast forward once more, multiple explosion propel me forward. "YOU AIN'T GETTING AHEAD OF ME!!"
My eyes locked on one goal.
'That smug bastard is gonna regret showing off!'
(Momo POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
"Amazing..."
I watch in awe as the terrain ahead, once a simple track, has transformed into a mountainous labyrinth of earth. All thanks to Kata's overwhelming power.
'As expected of the president.'
A small smile tugs at my lips as I steer my scooter forward, my mind already analyzing the best way to navigate the altered landscape. However, as I approach the uneven ground, I abandon the vehicle in favor of something more practical.
'He could have easily sealed off the path, yet he didn't.'
I recall his speech as I create a sturdy metal pole, driving it straight into the head of a two-pointer that lunges at me. The robot sparks before collapsing, allowing me to push forward without losing momentum.
'Kata isn't just strong, he calculated this. He did this to show himself to the heroes watching.'
Blitzing to the finish wouldn't have attracted much attention. But this? 'I'm sure almost every hero wants him.'
Reaching one of the highest points, I pause for a split second, recalling the exact components needed for my next creation. With a quick motion, I pull open my shirt, my Quirk activating as a hang glider materializes from my skin.
Spreading the frame wide, I leap forward, catching the wind and soaring over the maze below.
'His speech... Did he really believe there was a chance someone could beat him, or was he just giving us hope?'
The thought lingers, but I push it aside. Now isn't the time to dwell on that. I could ask him when I see him.
"I'll catch up!"
Determination ignites within me as my feet hit the ground. Without missing a beat, I discard the glider and break into a sprint, eyes locked onto the next obstacle, the canyon.
(Mina's POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
"He really went overboard!"
I groan, panting as I leap make my way through the labyrinth, sweat forming on my brow. The once-flat track has become a nightmare of jagged terrain, forcing me to push myself even harder.
"This should've been a fun run, but nooo. He just had to turn it into a rocky maze and stuff it full with robots!"
A robot rushes towards me, but I don't stop moving. I raise my hands and fire a spray of acid, the liquid quickly eating through its metal frame. The bot collapses, but I barely take a second to celebrate before pressing on.
"Seriously, you better watch your back, Okada!" I shout into the wind, knowing full well he won't hear me.
Reaching the halfway point, I finally come to a stop, taking a moment for a gasp of air.
A wry smile creeps onto my lips as I stare down at the next stretch.
"Almost out."
I exhale. 'No time to hesitate.'
Straightening up, I take off running, my grin widening despite the exhaustion.
"I'll definitely make it!"
Because no way in hell was I gonna be eliminated in the first round.
(Mei Hatsume POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
"Wow! Now that's something!"
I whistle in admiration as I take in the miniature mountains Kata Okada created. The entire landscape is completely transformed—jagged ice, cracked earth, and overturned robots litter the field. It's absolute chaos.
"But nothing my babies can't handle!"
Grinning, I lean forward on my Auto Balancers, effortlessly maneuvering through the maze. Robots lunge, but they're too slow to keep up. With each precise movement, my balance remains perfect—just as expected.
As I near a one of the highest points, I activate my grappling hook, latching on to it as it pulls me forward with added speed. I give a little hop, letting my booster soles activate mid-air. With a whoosh, I glide effortlessly over the area, my eyes shining with excitement.
"Man, this is great!"
Everyone's watching. Sponsors, investors, tech enthusiasts—they're all glued to the action. And thanks to Kata's little terrain adjustment, my babies get to shine even brighter.
'I should probably thank him later.'
My grin widens as I imagine the flood of funding that's definitely coming my way. But that's not all.
'Kata won first place. And from the looks of it, he could dominate this entire competition…'
My goggles flash as an idea strikes.
'If I can get him to use my babies, just once…'
That's all it would take. The exposure alone would make my babies famous!
Imagine—Kata Okada, the star of the Sports Festival, using Mei Hatsume's finest support items!
Excitement surges through me, and I push my speed to the max, zipping ahead with a clear goal in mind:
"Make my babies famous!" I shout as I reach the ground once more and begin speeding towards the canyon.
(Izuku's POV – Obstacle Course Racetrack, Robo Inferno)
I stare in growing despair at the battlefield ahead.
The course, which should've been a straightforward path, is now a maze of mountains and earth—all thanks to Kata.
I grit my teeth.
'If I take the paths he left open, I'll lose too much time. I won't be able to catch up.'
That's not an option.
My fists clench as my mind races. If I hesitate, I'll fall behind. If I hold back, I'll be eliminated.
'There's no point saving strength for the final battle if I won't even qualify.'
I have to act.
I pick up a shattered piece of one of the robot's, large enough to use as a sled.
Steeling myself, I charge toward one of the smaller hills. The second my foot touches solid ground, I channel One For All into my finger, as I grab onto the metal for dear life.
"SMASH!"
A powerful shockwave rips through the rock, blasting me forward and upwards, through the air and over the course.
Pain explodes in my hand. My finger red and raw, trembling from the force.
But I don't stop. I can't stop.
Gritting my teeth, I push forward holding onto the metal for ear life as my heart pounds in my chest.
'I have to win.'
Not just for myself.
Not just to prove I belong here.
'I have to win and make All Might and Mom proud.'
Ignoring the searing pain in my hand, I soar through the air, bracing myself for the impact, eyes locked onto the canyon ahead.